Lynn Johnston – författare

The most popular, most-read comic strip in North America is now the most fun way to learn Spanish! Learning a language should be fun! So sit back, laugh, and learn Spanish by following the antics of the Patterson family in Lynn Johnston's hugely popular comic strip "For Better or For Worse." Now, featured weekly in several Latin American Spanish-language newspapers, these cartoons will have you laughing your way through your lessons as you expand your vocabulary, comprehension, and conversational skills.To help you focus on the learning level with which you are most comfortable, "Laugh 'n' Learn Spanish" is divided into three sections: beginning, moderate, and challenging. Through the comic strips and their universal themes of family values in a modern world, you'll learn how to talk in Spanish about everyday things: making demands and requests, expressing hope and plans for the future, discussing household chores, going shopping, asking for types of food, exploring relationships, and so on. The engaging storylines offer a strong incentive to keep reading and learning.Using laughter to break through the language barrier, "Laugh 'n' Learn Spanish" features: vocabulary notes that translate difficult or new Spanish vocabulary; language notes that provide guidance on correct usage; entertaining, picture-based review questions that test your grasp of vocabulary and commonly used structures; plus the original English text for the cartoon strips, should you need to check your understanding.

Pictures and humor help readers build their Spanish language skills

To its millions of fans, the Pattersons are just like their own families, facing universal issues among daily concerns. Containing a selection of 100 syndicated Spanish-language versions of the strip that is widely read in Latin America, Laugh ''n'' Learn Spanish provides an entertaining and effective way to expand and polish conversational skills in Spanish.

Readers learn by understanding and learning natural, everyday verbal interactions at home and about town, following John and Ell Patterson as they attempt to come to terms with middle age; daughter Elizabeth as she spreads her wings and goes off to college; son Michael dating and then marrying his childhood sweetheart, Deanna; daughter April as she rebels against discipline, anther grandpa who finds a second love in the autumn of his life. Each strip is graded by difficulty--Beginning, Moderate, or Challenging--and is accompanied by:

Glosses that translate difficult vocabularyUsage notes to build proficiencyA summarizing activity that tests comprehensionAdditional exercises for key idioms and word patterns appear at the end of each section

Inside Farley and the Lost Bone, award-winning cartoonist Lynn Johnston of For Better or For Worse fame and co-author Beth Cruickshank follow Farley as he welcomes the warmth of spring and tries to remember where he buried his most prized possession last fall. As a follow-up to the duo''s first book, Farley Follows His Nose (Harper Collins, 2009), this children''s tale features fan favorite sheepdog Farley as he digs in Elly''s flowerbed, under Michael''s model railway set, and inside Lizzie''s sandbox until he remembers the special spot where he buried his tasty bone.Pairing Johnston''s signature art with Cruickshank''s gentle prose, Farley and the Lost Bone imparts a tale of self-reliance, diligence, and determination perfect for young readers.

As its title implies, In the Beginning There Was Chaos follows John and Elly Patterson as they tackle the everyday joys and sorrows--and surprises and frustrations and challenges--that arise when raising a young family. In her second For Better or For Worse treasury, Lynn Johnston takes readers back to the 1980s, when Elly leaves her column for a job at the library. As Elly chases her professional goals, she struggles with spending less time at home. Meanwhile, John provides consistent comic relief, as he plays Mr. Mom, breaks his foot with a 25-pound turkey, and gets arrested for trying to steal a potty. Of course, the kids are always in tow--Michael learning that with age comes responsibility and Elizabeth discovering the thrills of kindergarten.Combining strips from Johnston''s fourth, fifth, and sixth cartoon collections--Just One More Hug, The Last Straw, and Keep the Home Fries Burning--In the Beginning There Was Chaos reflects Johnston''s longstanding tradition of portraying family life with charm, humor, and honesty. Devoted fans will love reliving the Pattersons'' younger years, and first-time readers will discover why this endearing foursome is North America''s favorite funny page family.In the Beginning There Was Chaos includes Johnston''s commentary on the inspiration behind strips, as well as photos and newspaper clippings from the early days, providing a behind-the-scenes glimpse for fans of For Better or For Worse. Join the Patterson family as they find humor in everyday life''s challenges.Lynn Johnston was born in Collingwood, Ontario, and grew up in British Columbia. Today, she lives in Corbeil, Ontario. Johnston is the first woman to receive a Reuben Award for Cartoonist of the Year by the National Cartoonists Society in 1985. She has also received the Order of Canada and claims a star on Canada''s Walk of Fame.For Better or For Worse has been syndicated since 1979 and was named Best Syndicated Comic Strip in 1992. For Better or For Worse appears in more than 2,000 newspapers in 23 countries, and is translated into 8 languages for a devoted readership of more than 220 million. The strip boasts a lively Web presence at www.fborfw.com.

Inside Farley and the Lost Bone, award-winning cartoonist Lynn Johnston of For Better or For Worse fame and co-author Beth Cruickshank follow Farley as he welcomes the warmth of spring and tries to remember where he buried his most prized possession last fall. As a follow-up to the duo''s first book, Farley Follows His Nose (Harper Collins, 2009), this children''s tale features fan favorite sheepdog Farley as he digs in Elly''s flowerbed, under Michael''s model railway set, and inside Lizzie''s sandbox until he remembers the special spot where he buried his tasty bone.Pairing Johnston''s signature art with Cruickshank''s gentle prose, Farley and the Lost Bone imparts a tale of self-reliance, diligence, and determination perfect for young readers.

It was a bleak day when the Patterson''s faithful 14-year-old sheep dog, Farley, died while saving young April from a raging river. Across the country, fans who read For Better or For Worse in some 1,600 daily newspapers, reacted with surprise and grief. Since 1979, Johnston has created an affectionate family whose members face real problems with grace and humor. Readers have accompanied Elly and John Patterson through the ears, watching them raise their children, Michael, Elizabeth, and April; commiserating when they dealt with aging parents; wondering how they''d handle a friend''s homosexuality. In Remembering Farley, Lynn Johnston shares her favorite selection from the heroic sheep dog''s life. This retrospective includes strips from Farley''s puppy days to his dying day, scenes that capture the essence of raising and loving a pet. Remembering Farley also contains some new illustrations and quotes from some of the letters sent by his many fans. Remembering Farley is a tender tribute to a dog that many of us felt was our own devoted friend.

In Things Are Looking Up... A For Better or For Worse Collection, Michael travels to Winnipeg to work on his Aunt and Uncle''s farm for the summer and takes his driving test, Elizabeth is discovering boys, makeup, and designer clothes while struggling to fit in with the "In Crowd," and April starts teething.

In What, Me Pregnant? A For Better or For Worse Collection, Elly, who is juggling a new job, the adolescent traumas of Michael and now Elizabeth, plus the usual housework woes, finds out she is pregnant!! The shock finally wears off and the family deals with the idea of another person in their household. Then one stormy night, baby April is born at home, and the Pattersons forget their worries and focus on the beautiful new baby girl, while getting used to midnight feedings and changing diapers!

As its title implies, In the Beginning There Was Chaos follows John and Elly Patterson as they tackle the everyday joys and sorrows--and surprises and frustrations and challenges--that arise when raising a young family. In her second For Better or For Worse treasury, Lynn Johnston takes readers back to the 1980s, when Elly leaves her column for a job at the library. As Elly chases her professional goals, she struggles with spending less time at home. Meanwhile, John provides consistent comic relief, as he plays Mr. Mom, breaks his foot with a 25-pound turkey, and gets arrested for trying to steal a potty. Of course, the kids are always in tow--Michael learning that with age comes responsibility and Elizabeth discovering the thrills of kindergarten.Combining strips from Johnston''s fourth, fifth, and sixth cartoon collections--Just One More Hug, The Last Straw, and Keep the Home Fries Burning--In the Beginning There Was Chaos reflects Johnston''s longstanding tradition of portraying family life with charm, humor, and honesty. Devoted fans will love reliving the Pattersons'' younger years, and first-time readers will discover why this endearing foursome is North America''s favorite funny page family.In the Beginning There Was Chaos includes Johnston''s commentary on the inspiration behind strips, as well as photos and newspaper clippings from the early days, providing a behind-the-scenes glimpse for fans of For Better or For Worse. Join the Patterson family as they find humor in everyday life''s challenges.Lynn Johnston was born in Collingwood, Ontario, and grew up in British Columbia. Today, she lives in Corbeil, Ontario. Johnston is the first woman to receive a Reuben Award for Cartoonist of the Year by the National Cartoonists Society in 1985. She has also received the Order of Canada and claims a star on Canada''s Walk of Fame.For Better or For Worse has been syndicated since 1979 and was named Best Syndicated Comic Strip in 1992. For Better or For Worse appears in more than 2,000 newspapers in 23 countries, and is translated into 8 languages for a devoted readership of more than 220 million. The strip boasts a lively Web presence at www.fborfw.com.

It was a bleak day when the Patterson''s faithful 14-year-old sheep dog, Farley, died while saving young April from a raging river. Across the country, fans who read For Better or For Worse in some 1,600 daily newspapers, reacted with surprise and grief. Since 1979, Johnston has created an affectionate family whose members face real problems with grace and humor. Readers have accompanied Elly and John Patterson through the ears, watching them raise their children, Michael, Elizabeth, and April; commiserating when they dealt with aging parents; wondering how they''d handle a friend''s homosexuality. In Remembering Farley, Lynn Johnston shares her favorite selection from the heroic sheep dog''s life. This retrospective includes strips from Farley''s puppy days to his dying day, scenes that capture the essence of raising and loving a pet. Remembering Farley also contains some new illustrations and quotes from some of the letters sent by his many fans. Remembering Farley is a tender tribute to a dog that many of us felt was our own devoted friend.

Inside Farley and the Lost Bone, award-winning cartoonist Lynn Johnston of For Better or For Worse fame and co-author Beth Cruickshank follow Farley as he welcomes the warmth of spring and tries to remember where he buried his most prized possession last fall. As a follow-up to the duo''s first book, Farley Follows His Nose (Harper Collins, 2009), this children''s tale features fan favorite sheepdog Farley as he digs in Elly''s flowerbed, under Michael''s model railway set, and inside Lizzie''s sandbox until he remembers the special spot where he buried his tasty bone.Pairing Johnston''s signature art with Cruickshank''s gentle prose, Farley and the Lost Bone imparts a tale of self-reliance, diligence, and determination perfect for young readers.